Finding service with a personal touch IS possible in an anonymous city

In this city of 9 million residents and millions more of tourists, it’s easy to go through the motions and errands of each day anonymously. Locals are adept at getting in and out of places quickly. We walk purposefully, eyes down, and we’re often in a rush. We know how many seconds it takes to cross the street as the crosswalk indicator blinks and how many inches we need to squeeze by the tourists and strollers on the sidewalk. And, yes, we’ll walk in the gutter if it means getting there faster!

This pace combines with tech conveniences – like hitting the ATM instead of dealing with a teller, or scanning a PayPass at checkout instead of exchanging cash with the attendant – for an experience that reduces the need for human interaction. It’s easy to skip conversation and eye contact. (And it’s discouraging after an attempt that’s met with a mere grunt from behind the counter.)

But I’ve noticed a change. Not sure if it’s “me” or “we.” But I’m sensing things are changing. For the better.

In the last 24 hours, I had three interactions with store staff.

I was walking toward the dental care aisle to consider switching toothpaste brands when a drug store staff member came out of the stock room and saw me. “That’s a great dress,” she said with a smile, and I knew she was being sincere. She must be new to the staff because I’ve never seen her and I’m a regular.

While fixing my coffee at a self-service station in an organic food franchise, a staff member came over and cleaned up the station by wiping down the counter and picking up errant stirrers and sweetener wrappers. I said, “It’s nice that you’re doing that, not a lot of people do that at coffee places.” As we continued talking, I said, “Excuse me for reaching, but I’d like to grab a cup cover,” and she said, “It’s nice that you said that, not a lot of people do that either. They just cross their arms right in front of your face like this.”

I stopped for an afternoon treat at an ice cream stand, where the young professional woman ahead of me was on a run for her whole office. She had her hands full with two plastic bags of ice cream. I didn’t hear the exchange between her and the server at the stand, but she seemed angry and then left. While I was waiting for mine, the server voiced how rude that customer had been. I said I hadn’t heard the exchange, and the server said, “She had a real attitude. You’re at an ice cream shop, what’s there to be mad about?”

In all these cases, both the staff and the customer (me) connected. We shared eye contact and a few words. We all felt better for it.

What the first young lady at the drug store didn’t know was that I was feeling disappointed – I had just come from an important meeting that was slated for two hours and lasted 10 minutes. I had done a great deal of preparation for it and was crestfallen that it seemed all for naught. She lifted me up – just when I needed it!

The coffee shop exchange provided an unexpected affirmation for both us. Common courtesies are appreciated.

The ice cream stand scenario was about the server feeling better after a negative exchange. Whatever the situation, she needed to share this frustration and did so with me. Empathy is easy to give.

Also, the three ladies I connected with were open and friendly personalities in their early 20s. It gives me hope that this generation of digital natives knows how to be social offline.

Related Link:
“Sunshine at the Supermarket” (WSJ, 2011) features a D’Agostino register worker who is preferred by customers for her sunny disposition. “It’s just who I am,” Linda Cummings says. Bonus: Great customer service makes great business sense.